Qutub Minar

Qutub Minar

Background:

The Qutab Minar is the pride of Delhi. This located at a small village called Mehrauli in South Delhi. Started in 1192 by the slave king, Qutab-ud-Din Aibak, the tower was built in three stages. Qutab-ud-Din completed the first storey while the other three were built by Iltutmish in 1230. The Minar was damaged in 1322 and then repaired by Mohammad Bin Tughlak and again in 1368 by Firoz Shah Tughlak.

Qutab Minar - Spearing its way into the sky

The word 'Qutab Minar' means 'axis minaret'. Qutab Minar with a height of 72.5m (239ft), is the highest stone tower in India and can be ascended by a circular stairway for a view that is breathtaking. The monument tapers from a 15-meter diameter base to just 2½ metres at the top. This majestic tower in the capital city is a prime attraction for tourists world over. The Qutab Minar, the first monument of Muslim rule in India, heralded the beginning of a new style of art and architecture that came to be known as the Indo-Islamic style.

The tower comprises of five different storeys, with a prominent balcony. The first three storeys are made of red sandstone, the fourth and fifth of marble and sandstone. The decoration of the Qutab Minar is consistently Islamic in character from base to top.The Qutab Minar is covered with intricate carvings and deeply inscribed verses from the Koran. Beautiful calligraphy adorns the adjacent edifices. The minar has survived a series of lightening bolts and earthquakes during the past centuries.

Hot spots at qutab complex:

Quwwat-Ul-Islam Masjid

To mark his victory over Rai Pithora, Qutub-ud-Din Aibak built the Quwwat-ul-Islam Masjid (Might of Islam) in 1192.

Iltutmish Tomb

Also located in the complex is the Iltutmish Tomb. Iltutmish had his tomb built a year earlier than his death. This is a landmark in Indo- Islamic architecture.

Alai Darwaza

This gate was built on entirely Islamic principles and is considered as one of the precious gems of Islamic architecture. lt is the first building employing whole Islamic principles of accurate construction and geometric ornamentation.

Iron Pillar

The Qutab complex houses an iron pillar. The inscription on the pillar indicates that it was built in the honor of Vishnu, A Hindu God and in the memory of the Gupta king Chandragupta II. The pillar is made of 98 per cent wrought iron and has stood 1,600 years without rusting or decomposing.

Climate

The city has an extreme climate. December and January are chilly with night times lows of 4 °C. The city has spring months in February and March. The summer months of May & June are scorchingly hot with mercury soaring to a high of 46 °C. The city does not have much of rainy season. The monsoon lasts from July to September.

How to get there?

» Air: All major international airlines in the world fly through Delhi. Indira Gandhi International Airport is located at Central Delhi and the domestic terminal at Palam is 5km away from the international terminal.

» Rail: The city has two major railway stations in New Delhi and Old Delhi. New Delhi station is within walking distance of Connaught Place and Main Delhi station is about 7km from Connaught Place. Delhi offers Express trains to all parts of the country.

» Bus : Buses from all the major places in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are available for getting to Delhi. Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) operates special services from railway stations to different parts of the city.

Click here For All India Properties

Share on Google Plus

About Prabhanjam India

This is a short description in the author block about the author. You edit it by entering text in the "Biographical Info" field in the user admin panel.